Writing point or tracing element

ABSTRACT

The housing (1&#39;) of a writing point (1) or tracing element for manual ink writing or drawing instruments or for plotter or similar automatic or mechanical tracing machines is or can be linked with a shaft (40) that contains the ink and/works as a holder and/or storage. The housing has also a compensating system and a writing body (1&#34;) and if necessary other parts. It is provided with a supply system having in the area of the housing (1&#39;) several annular spaces (52 and 57) arranged axially one after the other and having different capillarities, their capillarity increasing one or more times in the direction of the writing body (1&#34;). At least one annular space is conically shaped (53) and has a capillarity different from that of the writing body (1&#34;), increasing in the direction of the latter.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a writing point or a tracing element for manualink writing or drawing instruments or for plotter or similar automaticor mechanical tracing machines.

2. Description of the Prior Art

In the German utility model No. 1947 421 as well as in the CH-patent 451745 such writing points are represented and described in their essentialfeatures. Even though it might be true that these known writing pointsalready were rather safe against running-out and guaranteed a relativelyeven flow of ink, they do not satisfy the requirements of quality ofnowadays any more. Especially in the case of work that has to be donevery fast, respectively under high traction speeds [drawing speeds], forexample in the case plotters or similar installations, the flow of thewriting medium might be changed, or even cut off, and thus uneven oruncomplete lines can be caused. Besides, these writing points can runout relatively easily under strong oscillations of temperature orpressure and thus cause pollution in their environment, and later, whenthe writing mean possibly drys,--especially if the tracing ink in theventilation--or balancing system dries, expensive works of maintenancecan be made necessary.

Thus it is an object of the present invention to provide a writingpoint, respectively a tracing element, which even under very highworking--or traction speeds guarantees evenly and completely drawnlines, respectively swabs and provides a relatively high safety againstrunning out and thus virtually does not require any maintenance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This task is resolved by a writing point or tracing element for manualink writing or drawing instruments or for plotters or similar automaticor mechanical tracing machines, wherein the housing of the writing pointis connected or connectable with a shaft. The shaft contains ink orindia ink and serves as a holder and/or a storage space and acompensating system as well as further individual elements. The supplysystem includes in the area of the housing several spaces which allprovide different capillarities, and which are disposed in an axialsequence, the capillarity increasing once or several times towards thewriting body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 shows an inventive writing point with a shaft,

FIG. 2 shows a cross section through the shaft according to line A--A inFIG. 1,

FIG. 3 shows a cross section through the shaft and the writing pointaccording to line B--B in FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 shows a cross section through the shaft and the writing pointaccording to line C--C in FIG. 1,

FIG. 5 shows the writing point pursuant to FIG. 1 without shaft,

FIG. 6 shows the writing point pursuant to FIG. 1 without shaft or innerparts,

FIG. 7 shows the tube insert pursuant to FIG. 1,

FIG. 8 shows the core insert pursuant to FIG. 1,

FIG. 9 shows another embodiment of the inventive writing point,

FIG. 10 shows a variant with a writing ball and

FIG. 11 shows a further variant with a writing wick.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The writing point (1) shown in FIG. 1 is inserted into a shaft (40) andprovides basically a housing (1'), a tube (1") as writing body which isinserted firmly into the housing, a sealing tube insert (20) whichcloses the channels of the compensating channel (64), and a core insertwhich is movable in the axial direction against the pressure of a spring(71).

The shaft (40) provides apart from the receiving space (41), into whichthe writing point (1) is screwed, a storage space (42) for the ink,india ink or for another liquid medium and thus represents the storagespace for the writing means as well (cartridge, shell case or somethingof that kind).

The housing (1'), which is inserted sealing into the receiving space(41) with its circumferential surface, provides in its mantle surface anouter channel (66), which rotates several times, a compensating channel(64) running in the inner side in the shape of a spiral and a connectingchannel (65) at the rear end and thus comprises the essential elementsof the compensating system.

The tube insert (20) is inserted axially continuously sealing into theboring of the housing (1') and rests sealing in mounted condition withits firmly disposed lock (30) against a sealing stop (43).

The lock (30) thus prevents the direct entry of the writing medium intothe compensating system and seals its connection channel (65) at therear side. The boring (73), which substantially is cylindrical providesat the rear side supporting stops (32) for the spring (71) and thencontinues as an intake well [inlet boring] (31) with capillary intaketubes (59) up to the rear end.

Into the half of the side of the writing body (first half), a rotatingannular channel (63), preferably capillary is worked in, and startingfrom this annular channel (63) a connecting channel (62), whichpreferably is fashioned as a non-capillary boring or as a rectangularbreak-through, penetrates completely the wall of the tube insert whichopens out in the area of the non-capillary air channel (61) into theinner side of the writing point (1), the non-capillary air channel (61)being disposed in the boring (73) and extending axially up to into thestorage space (42).

The core insert (10') provides a rearward pin (13), which here isfashioned cylindrical, but which can also be fashioned as a cone, andprovides a cone (12), a subsequent cylinder piece (14) and a firmlyinserted needle (11).

The supply system is composed essentially of the inlet space (51), whichis formed by the inlet boring (31) and the pin (13) the inlet spacepreferably is capillary. Into this intake space the capillary intaketubes (59) open out radially. And the supply system is composed of theinner space (52), formed by the cylindrical boring (73) and the pin(13), the inner space (52) in general being non-capillary and receivingthe spring (71).

The supply system is further composed of the conical space (53), whichprovides an increasing capillarity, and which is formed by thecylindrical boring (73) and the annular space formed by the mantle ofthe cone (12). The supply system is composed of the capillary holdingspace (54) between the cylinder piece (14) and the boring (73), out ofthe intermediate storage space (55) which is partly penetrated by theradial supply channels (58) and the writing storage space (56) and thewriting space (57). The intermediate storage space (55), the writingstorage space (56) and the writing space (57) are fashioned as annularspaces with an increasing capillarity towards the writing body (1") bystepped borings in the housing (1') as well as in the writing tube (1"),and the outer surface of the needle (11), which is movable axially withthe core insert (10') and which projects a little past the writing tube(1") at the front face.

The lock (30), which is inserted centrically and possibly sealing intothe fitting boring (44) of the shaft (40) and a spigot (72), whichprovides an air outlet [inlet] (67), and which rests in case of needsealing against the wall of the receiving space (41) of the shaft (40)being centered at the front, serve for a secure coaxial fixing of thewriting point (1) in the shaft (40).

The figure shows very clearly as well, that in the case of therepresented example of embodiment of the invention, which isparticularly advantageous, the connecting channel (62) between thesupply and the compensation system opens out into the cone spacevirtually in the area of the highest capillarity of the cone space (53),and still touches the subsequent holding space (54), which provides ahigh capillarity. The spring (71) can be omitted and the core insert(10'), which here is made up of plastic, can be disposed axially freelymovable. The core insert (10') may also be other material to provideanother specific gravity.

The compensation system is especially effective, if it is composed of aninner compensating channel (64) or a compensating channel connected inseries, which provides the shape of a spiral or of a meander. Thecompensation channel (64) can continue axially beyond the connectingchannel (62) and thus, if need be, form an additional buffer zone (68),which opens out either into the intermediate storage space (55), orwhich just receives a small amount of the writing medium as a balancingchannel, which is closed at one side.

The cross sections shown in the FIGS. 2 through 4 represent the axialcourse of the individual zones and areas as well as theircross-sections.

In the shaft (40) (according to FIG. 2) over the storage space (42) thelock (30) is to be seen with the inlet boring (31) and the intake tubes(59). The axially continuous air channel (61), which is non-capillaryopens out into the inlet space (51), formed by the pin (13) and theinlet boring (31).

FIG. 3 shows in addition to this the outer channel (66), which isfastened to the housing (1') and which provides the shape of a spiral,shows the compensating channel (64), which provides the form of a spiralas well, and shows the cone space (53), the tube insert (20) and thespring (71). FIG. 4 shows the spigot (72), providing an air outlet (67),the connecting channel (62) which penetrates the tube insert (20)radially and which opens out into the annular channel (63), thecapillary holding space (54) and the cut cylinder piece (14).

The writing point (1) according to the FIG. 5 provides basically thewriting tube (1"), which is inserted firmly into the housing (1'), aninlet channel (59), which can be seen at the lock (30), a graduatedrecessed outer channel (66) and a spigot (72), which is pierced by anair inlet (67).

By means of a connecting thread (75) this point can be fastened in theshaft or in a holder or in a cartridge, and a locking thread (76) canserve for the fastening of the locking cap, which is not representedhere.

Pursuant to FIG. 6 the writing tube (1") is pressed into the front zoneof the housing (1'). The outer channel (66), which is connected to theouter air by the air inlet (67), the air inlet (67) penetrating thespigot (72) axially, is in contact at the rear end with the compensationchannel (65), the compensation channel (64) providing the shape of aspiral and being disposed inside, so that at all times air, and that incase of need writing medium also can come into the outer channel (66),which in that case has the function of a surplus chamber. If this outerchannel (66) is fashioned capillary or if it is provided continuouslywith capillary zones, any writing medium which has entered will usuallyflow out automatically when the pressure decreases.

FIG. 7 represents the tube insert (20) and shows the annular channel(63), extending on the outer mantle (21). The connection channel (62),penetrates the wall radially in the annular channel (63) and in theaxially extending air channel (61). The supporting stop (32), delimitsthe cylindrical boring (73) in the rear against the inlet boring (31)and the lock (30) provides intake tubes (59).

The core insert (10') according to FIG. 8 is composed essentially of theneedle (11), which is inserted into the cylinder piece (14),respectively of the cleaning thread [wire], usually applied in tubewriting instruments, of the cone (12) and of the pin (13). The pin canpreferably be made up of thermoplastic synthetic or of metal, ceramic orsomething of that kind.

The writing point (1), which also provides a writing tube (1') and whichis screwed into a holder (40) pursuant to FIG. 9 provides a core insert(10"), fashioned as a falling weight, with a pin (13) and a needle (11)and a lock (30).

Here the writing medium comes out of a shell case (80), disposed in theshaft, and comes over break-throughs (77) and an intermediate chamber(78) into the inlet space (51), which is penetrated by the pin (13) andcomes furthermore over the inner space (52) and over the cone space(53), which is formed by the cylindrical mantle of the core insert(10"), and over the holding space (54) and over the supply channels (58)into the intermediate storage space (55), into the writing storage space(56) and into the writing space (57).

The compensation of the writing medium is carried out of the cone space(53) and/or out of the holding space (54) over the connection channel(62) into the compensation channel (65), which is not shown here, to theouter channel (66) and through the outer channel (66) to the front andover the air inlet (67) disposed in the spigot (72). In the case of thewriting point pursuant to FIG. 10 the writing body is formed by awriting ball (2"), which is fed with relatively liquid writingmedium-preferably with ink over a cylindrical core insert (10'"),fashioned as a supply wick, as well as over the receiving space (51),which provides a conical shape here, over the proper cone space (53),over the holding space (54), over the supply channels (58) and over thewriting space (56).

The wall of the boring (74) of the tube insert (20), which runs in aconical shape at least up to the connection channels (62), isinterrupted axially by two non-capillary air channels passing through,which at the rear end of the locking (30) open out into the writingmedium storage space (not represented here).

In the course of this the air is carried out over the air channels (61)and over the two connecting channels (62), which open out into the airchannels (61) and into the annular channel (63), over the compensatingchannel (64), over the connecting channel (65), over the outer channel(66) and over the air inlet (67). The compensating channel (64), whichis cut into the inside of the housing (2') is covered or closed by theouter mantle (21) of the tube insert (20).

The writing point (3) shown in FIG. 11 provides a writing wick (3") as awriting body, the rearward prolongation of which forms also thecapillary, cylindrically fashioned core insert (10'"), which projectsover the writing point towards the rear side.

In analogy to FIG. 10 here the writing medium flows through the highlycapillary core insert (10'") as well, and in addition to this, if needbe it flows over the inlet channels (59) and over the annular spaces,which are formed by the conical boring (74) and which provide anincreasing capillarity, as well as over the inlet space (51), the conespace (53), the highly capillary holding space (54), the intermediatestorage space (55) and the writing storage space (55) and the writingspace (56), provided that the writing wick (3") or the core insert(10'") comprise in these areas an outer wall, which is permeable for thewriting medium. If this is not the case, the inlet of the writing mediumand its transport is carried out up to the point over the highlycapillary center of the core insert (10'") or of the writing wick (3").In that case the annular spaces (51 through 56), which are provided incase of need, serve solely to compensate the surplus of the compensatingsystem (60), which in addition to this also provides at least an axialnon-capillary air channel (61) as well as a connection channel (62), andan annular channel (63), a compensating channel (64), a connectingchannel (65), and an outer channel (66) and an air inlet (67). The lock(30), which is disposed at the tube insert (20) provides inlet channels(59), which are directed radially towards the inside, which open outinto the inner space (51) and which are at least partly capillary. Therearward end--here inclined--usually projects into the ink storagespace, which can provide an absorbent storage filling.

The core insert (10") shown in FIG. 9 as well as the core inserts (10'")of the examples of embodiment of FIG. 10 and 11 can provide a continuouscapillary supply wick and if need be a shell case serving as a balancebody. The attachment of the needle (11) is carried out in the shell caseor in the supporting wick, which [the wick] in addition to this projectsover the shell case with the pin (13) towards the back, and which [thewick] penetrates it in the front entirely or partly, if necessary. Iffor reasons of the specific system no axial movement of the core insert(10") is necessary or desirable, the core also can be fixed firmly andstationary in the housing (1').

We claim:
 1. A writing or tracing element for manual ink writing ordrawing instruments or for plotters or other automatic or mechanicaltracing machines, the element comprising an essentially tubular housing,the housing adapted to be connected to a shaft which serves as a holderand defines a storage space for ink, the housing including acompensation system and defining a central bore, a core insert beinginserted in the bore of the housing, a writing body being attached to anend of the housing, a supply system for the ink comprising a pluralityof annular spaces being defined between the core insert and the housing,the annular spaces having different widths in axial direction, such thatdifferent capillary forces act on the ink in the annular spaces, atleast one of the annular spaces being a conical space, wherein the widthof the at least one conical space decreases toward the writing body suchthat the capillary forces acting on the ink increase toward the writingbody.
 2. The element according to claim 1, comprising successively inaxial direction between the conical space and the writing body anintermediate storage space, a writing storage space and a writing space.3. The element according to claim 2, wherein the intermediate spaceincludes supply channels.
 4. The element according to claim 2,comprising a connecting channel which connects the supply system and thecompensating system, the connecting channel opening into the conicalspace at an end of the conical space which faces the writing body. 5.The element according to claim 4, comprising an air channel whichaxially extends through the annular spaces, the air channel having awidth which prevents capillary action on the ink from occurring, theconnecting channel opening into the supply system at the air channel. 6.The element according to claim 4, wherein the housing has an innercircumferential surface defining the bore and an outer circumferentialsurface, the compensation system being composed of a spirally extendinginner compensation channel defined in the inner surface and an outerchannel defined in the outer surface, and a second connecting channelbetween the inner channel and the outer channel.
 7. The elementaccording to claim 6, wherein the outer channel extends spirally.
 8. Theelement according to claim 6, wherein the outer channel extendsmeander-like.
 9. The element according to claim 6, wherein the outerchannel is connected to an air inlet.
 10. The element according to claim6, wherein the inner compensation channel has a half which faces thewriting body, the connecting channel opening into the half of the innercompensation channel facing the writing body, and wherein the secondconnecting channel leading to the compensation channel is arranged atthe rearward end of the housing.
 11. The element according to claim 6,wherein the inner compensation channel extends past the connectingchannel toward the writing body and ends in the intermediate storagespace.
 12. The element according to claim 6, wherein the innercompensation channel extends past the connecting channel toward thewriting body and ends shortly in front of the intermediate storagespace.
 13. The element according to claim 4, comprising a tubular insertbetween the core insert and the housing, the tubular insert having anouter surface, the connecting channel opening into an annular channeldefined in the outer surface of the tubular insert.
 14. The elementaccording to claim 1, wherein a capillary holding space is providedaxially between the conical space and the writing body.
 15. The elementaccording to claim 14, wherein the capillary holding space is arrangedaxially between the conical space and an intermediate storage space. 16.The element according to claim 1, wherein the conical space is formed bythe central bore of the housing being cylindrical and by a conicalportion of the core insert which widens toward the writing body.
 17. Theelement according to claim 1, wherein the conical space is formed by thecore insert being cylindrical and by a conical portion of the centralbore of the housing which narrows toward the writing body.
 18. Theelement according to claim 1, wherein the core insert has first andsecond ends, a rearward pin connected to the first end and a needleconnected to the second end, the core insert being disposed movable inaxial direction against the pressure of a spring.
 19. The elementaccording to claim 18, wherein the rearward pin extends essentiallyaxially completely through the housing.
 20. The element according toclaim 18, wherein the housing has a rearward lock, the rearward pinextending essentially axially entirely through the rearward lock. 21.The element according to claim 1, wherein the core insert has first andsecond ends, a rearward pin connected to the first pin and a needleconnected to the second end, the core insert being disposed movable inaxial direction against the pressure of a weight.
 22. The elementaccording to claim 1, wherein the core insert comprises a capillarysupply wick and is axially immovably mounted in the housing.